Substantial infrastructure developments planned for NSW

NSW's construction and manufacturing industries are set to receive an unprecedented boost thanks to decisions made by the state government. Premier Mike Baird recently confirmed that the planned $20 billion redevelopment of the region will go ahead as recommended.

The projects lined up by the government will require expert solutions to ensure they produced safely and efficiently, with plenty of room for applications such as BIM software to keep projects from suffering setbacks during planning.

Ambitious best describes the plan as it stands so far, with the projects likely to completely transform the state's infrastructure while positively affecting the economy and creating jobs. The forecast is certainly impressive, with analysts at Deloitte predicting a $300 billion benefit to NSW when they reviewed the master plan at the end of last year.

This redevelopment is aiming to achieve long term goals, such as the creation of up to 100,000 jobs in the region by 2035-6. These jobs should extend beyond the design, planning and construction jobs demanded by the building process, as the expanded infrastructure will need more workers to run effectively once it is completed.

By far, the biggest chunk of the investment is set aside for the Sydney Rapid Transit project which will add a second rail line to cross the Sydney harbour. This will tie up $7 billion of the allocated funding.

Other plans for the development are less structured at this stage until proper planning processes can get underway. For example, $4.1 billion has been set aside for regional transport upgrades, which will likely be distributed slowly across the state.

Schools and hospitals will also see a significant portion of the funding, with $2 billion dedicated to their design and construction. These could provide challenges for even the most experienced architects, as many are likely to be in urban settings and may wish to remain operational while work is completed.